Steam steering apparatus



(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. J. LEWIS. STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 314,858. Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

W ATTORNEYS.

(No Model.)

3 SheetsSheet 2. E. J. LEWIS. STEAM STEERING APPARATUS.

No. 314,858. Patented Mar. 81, 1885.

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ATTORN'E S.

WITNESSES JAE 0% (No ModeL) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 E. J. LEWIS. v

I STEAM STEERING APPARATUS, No. 314,858. 7 Patented Mar. 31, 1885.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR. /4L(.% 92Z7J{. 5,: W

ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLSVVORTH JOSEPH LEWIS, OF WVARRENTOR- OHIO.

STEAM STEERlNG APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 314,858, Izlarch 31,1885.

Application filed June 25, 1:384. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELLSWORTH J. LEwIs, a

citizen of the United States, and a resident of Warrenton. in the county of Jefferson and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam Steering Apparatus; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. which form a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved steam steering apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken through the valve-chest and through the shaft carrying the wheels over which the tiller-ropes pass, showing one of the said wheels in elevation. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the said wheels. Fig. 4 is a plan view or outline diagram of the entire apparatus. Fig. 5 is a side View of the apparatus.

The same letters refer to the same parts in all the figures.

This invention relates to steam steering apparatus for vessels; and it has for its object to provide a device by means of which the tiller may be conveniently and easily manipulated, and in which, in case any part of the steering mechanism should become disabled, the tiller may be manipulated by hand without any necessity for resorting to temporary mechanism of any kind.

To this end my invention consists in the improved construction and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, A designates the main cylinder of my improved steering mechanism, which is located transversely upon the deck of the vessel forward of the rudder-post. This cylinder is provided with a single centrallylocated piston, B, having piston-rods O O, which extend outwardly through both of the heads or ends of the said cylinder. The outer ends of the said piston-rods carry the crossheads or T-heads D D, sliding upon the Ways E E, and connected above the cylinder by means of a longitudinal rod, F, for which suitable guides or bearings may be provided, in

order to insure uniformity of motion. The upper ends of the T-heads D are provided with inwardly-exteuding forked rods G G, the inner or forked ends of which are secured to the upper and lower end of a bolt, G, turning and sliding in a slot, H in the tiller H.

I is the valve'chest, which is located centrally and transversely under the cylinder. The said valve-chest is provided with the steamentrance J, and it is provided at each end with two steam-ports, K K and L L, leading to the two ends ofthe main cylinder. The lower portion of the valve-chest is provided with the exhaust-ports M M, connecting with a channel or passage, N, which communicates with the exhaust-pipe O.

P designates the steam-pipe, which is connected to the steam-entrance J. The valvechest is provided with two valves or pistons mounted upon a single piston-rod, R, the outer end of which is provided with a rack-bar, S, engaging a toothed wheel, T, which is mounted securely upon a shaft, .U, arranged parallel to and in front of the main cylinder.

Upon the shaft U, at each side of the gearwheel T, is mounted a wheel or disk, V, provided near its periphery with a series of spring pawls, WV, engaging a ratchet-wheel, X, which is mounted loosely upon the shaft U. The said ratchet-wheel has a flange, Y, having an inwardly-extending lug, Z.

A is another wheel keyed securely upon the shaft U, and provided at its periphery with lugs 13 B, adapted to engage the lug Z of the ring or wheel Y when the latter revolves. One end of the shaft U is provided with a cross bar or arm, 0, the ends of which have downwardly-extending weighted rods D D, working in guides E, and provided with stops F, which,wl1en the device is operated,will prevent the valve from being moved to too great extent.

GG are the tiller-ropes, which are wound,

as shown, upon the wheels V, the free ends of 5 IOO live steam is supplied to the valve-chest.

thence along the sides of the tiller to the end of the same, and from thence to the pilot house,where they are connected, in the usual manner, to the wheel 1*.

Kdesignates the steam-pipe through which Arranged in the upper end of the said pipe is a butterfly-valve, L, the operating-rod of which, M, extends in an outward direction, and is connected to a bell-crank lever, N, mounted pivotally to the under side of one of the guides E of the cross-heads of the cylinder. The saidcross-head is provided with a downwardly-extending projection, 0, adapted to engage the upper arm of the said bell-crank lever, the ends of which are beveled, as shown, when ever the piston of the cylinder approaches the center of the same. It will be seen that when this takes place the valve L" is closed, and the steam-supply thus cut off. I make this pro vision because at this point the tiller is operated more conveniently and steadily by hand than by steam power, the wheel drawing upon the tiller rope, which is held taut by the weights, and which thus may draw the tiller to either side, the access of steam in the cylinder being cutoff. As soon as the piston passes off the center the cross-head D is disengaged from the bell-crank lever N, which is then returned by the action of a suitablyarranged spring, P, to its original position, when steam is again admitted to the valvechest and the operation continued as before.

The operation. of this invention will be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it appertains. Vhen the pilot turns the wheel in eitherdirecti0n,the motion is imparted through the tiller-ropes to the wheels V, one of which will turn in such a direction as to revolve the ring Y, thus causing the lug Z of the latter to engage the lug B of the disk A, which latter, being keyed upon the shaft U, will cause the latter to revolve, thus imparting motion throughthe cog-wheel T to the rack S of the valve-rod It, which latter, being thus moved in the proper direction, will cause steam to be admitted into one end of the cylinder, while the exhaust-ports of the other end are at the same time open. The piston of the main cylinder will thus be moved in the dethrough both the ends of the said cylinder, of

a suitable guide-rod connecting the crossheads, and the forked arms secured to the said cross-heads and connected Inovably with the tiller, and mechanism, substantially as described, for admitting steam into either end of the cylinder while the other end of the sameis connected with the exhaust, substantially as set forth.

2. As an improvement in steam steering mechanism, the combination, with a cylinder having two cross-heads connected, substantially as described, with the tiller, of the valvechest I, having steam-entrance J, ports K L M, exhaust O, and valves Q Q, arranged as described, the valve-rod R, having rack S, the shaft U, having gear-whee1 T, wheel V, having springpawls W, ring Y, having lug Z, disk A, having lugs 13. cross-bar 0, having weighted rods D, the tiller-ropes G, having weights H, and the guide-pulleys I, the said tiller-ropes passing over the wheels V,thence over the guide-pulleys I along the sides of the tiller, and thence to the wheel in the pilothouse, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a steam steering apparatus, the combination, with the reciprocating piston-rod 0, having crosshead D, provided with a projection, 0, of the bell-crank lever N, and a rod connecting the latter with a butterfly-valve arranged in the steam-supply pipe, substantially as set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereunto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELLSWVORTH JOSEPH LEWIS.

Witnesses:

E. B. YOST, A. M. KEITH. 

